Concerns over plans for thousands of homes on county border with Rushden

Stephanie Weaver

Concerns have been raised about plans to build more than 4,000 new houses near to the county border with Rushden.

As part of Bedford Borough Council’s Local Plan 2035, there is a proposal to build up to 4,500 new houses on the Colworth Estate.

Three Shires Way

The site is about seven miles from Rushden and there are fears it could impact on people living in the south of the town if the plans are approved.

One resident contacted the Northants Telegraph about the proposals and said: “Anyone who lives in south Rushden needs to contact the council about the plans.”

The main concern is that many people will not know about the plans as they fall outside of the county border, yet they could still be affected by them.

Souldrop is one of the villages near the proposed housing development, and a number of meetings have been held to discuss the proposals.

A statement on the Souldrop village website says: “Local residents and concerned parties packed out the village hall on Monday evening to discuss and debate Bedford Borough Council’s Local Plan 2035 in which there is a proposal to build up to 4,500 new houses on the nearby Colworth Estate.

“Souldrop and Knotting parish councillor Jeremy Viewing informed the villagers of the plans which if they go ahead would eventually see two new access roads joining with the A6.

“One road would leave the A6 on a new roundabout by Souldrop turn and head straight across the fields towards the railway bridge on Sharnbrook Road, from there a new road would link to the new development, passing by Roundwood.

“Further north along the A6 near West Wood Gate where the Three Shires Way crosses there would be another new roundabout linking to a new road that would take the course of the current Three Shires Way/Forty Foot Lane B.O.A.T.

“This would cross the railway and link to the new development to the south of Great Hayes Wood.

“Much of the new build which is called by the borough council ‘Lee’s Farm’ is actually within the territory of Souldrop parish.”

The website also says: “It was also emphasised and this is important, that as well as a formal council objection that the more individuals that send in their thoughts or objections to Bedford Borough Council Local Plan 2035, the more impact it would make.”

People have until Friday (June 9) to contact Bedford Borough Council and have their say on the plans.